Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-09-08


as the spectators knew, the prisoner
had been arrested on mere suspicion
as being stranger. Ifevidence turned
mp to prove him guilty there was no
Jail strong enough to hold him from
the vengeance of the people, nor any
legal power sufficient to stay the exe-
cution OF his death warrant or punish
those who carried it out.
The first witness was Mrs. Chan
man, a fair, childish-looking little
woman, whose woe-begone face and
widows weeds sent a murmur of SYM
pathy through the spectators. She
testified that the previous Sunday
evening she had paid a visit TO a
neighbor. Had been gone about an
hour, and OF coming hous-fotiha hvr
husband lying dead on the doorstep.
Her husband did not carry a pistol !;
there had never been pistol in the
house to her knowledge. She believed
her husband had no reason to CON-
nit suicide; was certain he would not
do such thing. He had sold cattle
a few days before, and had the money
in his pocketbook that day-S120 in
currency. He had a small gold watch
in his vest pocket, with a black silk
ribbon and charm attached. The
watch was hers-a present fron her
mother several years ago. Both money
and watch had disappeared. She did
not miss them until the day after,
owing to the excitement. She pre-.
sumed robbery had been the motive
for the crime; she knew of no other.
"Doyou know the prisoner ," asked
the Judge.
"1es," she faltered.
do you know his business in COM
ing here ?"
No reply. The question was re-
peated.
ooh! Judge" she burst out, with
a torrent of sobs, "he is my husband
But he didn't do it, Oh, Judge. God
knows he is innocent"
a buzz of excitement spread through
the room.
Silence said the Judge, rappiug
his desk sharply.
Then it was found the witness had
tainted in her chair. Presently she
-~-I =.
OF her first marriage and recent dis
covery of herself by the prisoner was
wrung from her. Only once the pris.
oner spoke.
Tell me the whole truth, Amelia,
and fear nothing" he said.
"She said the prisoner had been to
her house the day Of the murder.
Her husband-the deceased-was off
on the farm at the time. She had de.
cided 10 break the news to him that
night and go off with her first hus-
band-the accused-the next day and
would have done so but for what oc-
Cured.
Medical evidence was given to
prove that the deceased had not COM
mitted suicide.
Then the policeman was called.
lie testified to the steps taken to dis
cover the murderer. He discovered
the fact Of the prisoner S visit to Chap
mans house, and on that ground had
made the arrest. The prisoner had
freely told the story of his marriage,
and that his business here was to get
his wife, who was living with Chap
man. The only money the prisoner
had on his person when arrested was
about $25 in greenbacks and silver
and $40 in gold certificates. lie had
neither pistol nor watch.
Then the prisoner was asked to tes-
tify. In simple, homely language he
told of his search for his wife, his visit
to the village after receiving her let
ter, his meeting with her, not knowing
or caring whether her second husband
was at the house or awsy-and OF re-
ceiving her promise to meet him at
the railway station and depart with
him next day. At the hour the
murder was committed he was alone
in his bed room trying to pass away
the time with pipe. He asserted be
never saw Chapman in his life, and
had no desire to do him any harm mol
any enmity whatever against him
He simply wanted his wife. HI
would have been willing to tell the
story to Chapman, but his wife pre-
ferred to tell it herself, and he wa:
satisfied.
The landlord Of the hotel wher,
Hermann had stopped said ne did moi
know whether the prisoner was in hi
room at the hour Of the murder. HI
naid little attention TO his rnasts eT